Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Color this Dangerous: Spiritual Superiority

I had a conversation with two of our guys on staff at Heritage Park about a situation arising around here. It's classic spiritual superiority. There's a group. They reach out to hurting and wounded people. They declare themselves the real church, posture as real Christians, and talk about what the real message of the Bible says.

You know where this is going?

They have this rhythm. Include you through friendship. Exclude you through message. Include you when you sign onto what they're selling.

Beware.

Beware the guy or gal who has some secret knowledge about the Christian life. Beware the man who looks and talks spiritually, but primarily when he criticizes Jesus' bride. Beware the woman who will not submit herself to any sort of pastoral authority because she and her compadres have their own little church going that's "closer to the New Testament model." Beware the crew that doesn't fellowship outside of themselves.

It happened in Galatia (see Galatians 4.16-20). It's happening around here. It will happen around you too, though I hope not.